Decision time for late-night booze delivery

A NEW alcohol home delivery service could "further exacerbate" antisocial behaviour in Newquay, councilors have warned.

Andrew Sealey has applied for a premises licence to operate the alcohol delivery service from a unit off Tor Road.

If approved by Cornwall Council's licensing committee today, alcohol could be delivered to homes throughout the Newquay area from 11pm to 7am, Monday to Sunday.

However, Newquay Town Council and Geoff Brown, Cornwall councillor for Newquay Central, have objected to the application, fearing it could cause further problems for police in their bid to crack down on alcohol-fuelled antisocial behaviour.

In its submission to Cornwall Council, Newquay Town Council said: "The concern is this licence, if granted, could further exacerbate antisocial behaviour in the town and add to an already existing issue.

"The supply of retail alcohol is restricted to 2am, whereas this licence will allow consumption to continue to 7am. This will increase the risk of outbreaks of antisocial behaviour in domestic premises and holiday accommodation, requiring further resources to be taken from our local police force."

The town council also had concerns over the impact it could have on neighbouring properties along Tor Road, with deliveries going on through the night.

Another concern was the risk of those under the age of 18 being able to place telephone orders for alcohol.

Geoff Brown, agreed with the town council. He said: "My main concerns are around the conditions which need to be included should the licence be granted. These should relate to how underage sales are prevented and requirements which prevent delivery to people in the street."

The company said there will be no sale of alcohol at the premises and that alcohol will only be delivered to properties in the TR7 and TR8 postcode areas.

"If a person who appears to the delivery driver to be 25 or under represents him/herself as the person who ordered it or seeks to accept delivery, they will be required to prove their age before the delivery is completed unless the driver is certain, from personal knowledge or because they have seen proof of age on a previous occasion, that the person is 18 or over," said the company in its application.

"If the delivery driver believes or suspects that alcohol is to be resupplied to persons under the age of 18, he/she shall refuse to complete the transaction."